U.S. patent number 10,218,126 [Application Number 15/766,917] was granted by the patent office on 2019-02-26 for connector and connector assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED. Invention is credited to Tomoya Kurosawa.
United States Patent |
10,218,126 |
Kurosawa |
February 26, 2019 |
Connector and connector assembly
Abstract
A connector is mountable on a circuit board and mateable with a
mating connector along a front-rear direction. The connector
comprises a ground member, a holding member, a plurality of
contacts and a midplate. The ground member has an upper plate
portion, a lower plate portion, a coupling portion, a fixed leg and
an extending portion. Each of the upper plate portion and the lower
plate portion extends in a predetermined plane intersecting with an
up-down direction. The fixed leg is configured to be fixed to the
circuit board. The fixed leg extends downward in the up-down
direction from the extending portion. The extending portion
connects the fixed leg and the lower plate portion with each other.
The extending portion extends in the predetermined plane from the
lower plate portion. The plurality of contacts are arranged in two
contact rows.
Inventors: |
Kurosawa; Tomoya (Tokyo,
JP) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, LIMITED |
Shibuya-ku, Tokyo |
N/A |
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
JAPAN AVIATION ELECTRONICS
INDUSTRY, LIMITED (Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
58695017 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/766,917 |
Filed: |
October 13, 2016 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 13, 2016 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/JP2016/080349 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
April 09, 2018 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2017/081978 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 18, 2017 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180309243 A1 |
Oct 25, 2018 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Nov 9, 2015 [JP] |
|
|
2015-219671 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
24/60 (20130101); H01R 12/716 (20130101); H01R
13/6581 (20130101); H01R 13/405 (20130101); H01R
13/502 (20130101); H01R 13/6594 (20130101); H01R
2107/00 (20130101); H01R 12/721 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/658 (20110101); H01R 13/6581 (20110101); H01R
24/60 (20110101); H01R 13/405 (20060101); H01R
13/502 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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103956617 |
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Jul 2014 |
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CN |
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203859265 |
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Oct 2014 |
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CN |
|
204103126 |
|
Jan 2015 |
|
CN |
|
204103158 |
|
Jan 2015 |
|
CN |
|
204289804 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
CN |
|
204481257 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
CN |
|
2005123163 |
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May 2005 |
|
JP |
|
2009295385 |
|
Dec 2009 |
|
JP |
|
3198686 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
JP |
|
3200315 |
|
Oct 2015 |
|
JP |
|
511687 |
|
Nov 2015 |
|
TW |
|
Other References
International Search Report (ISR) dated Dec. 20, 2016 issued in
International Application No. PCT/JP2016/080349. cited by applicant
.
Japanese Office Action dated Aug. 2, 2017 issued in Japanese
Application No. 2015-219671. cited by applicant .
Taiwanese Office Action dated Jun. 20, 2017 issued in counterpart
Taiwanese Application No. 105134252. cited by applicant .
Written Opinion dated Dec. 20, 2016 issued in International
Application No. PCT/JP2016/080349. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Gushi; Ross N
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Holtz, Holtz & Volek PC
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A connector mountable on a circuit board and mateable with a
mating connector along a front-rear direction, wherein: the mating
connector comprises a plurality of mating contacts; the connector
comprises a ground member, a holding member, a plurality of
contacts and a midplate; the ground member has an upper plate
portion, a lower plate portion, a coupling portion, a fixed leg and
an extending portion; the upper plate portion and the lower plate
portion are arranged so as to be apart from each other in an
up-down direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction; each
of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion extends in a
predetermined plane intersecting with the up-down direction; the
coupling portion couples the upper plate portion and the lower
plate portion with each other; the fixed leg is configured to be
fixed to the circuit board; the fixed leg extends downward in the
up-down direction from the extending portion; the extending portion
connects the fixed leg and the lower plate portion with each other;
the extending portion extends in the predetermined plane from the
lower plate portion; the holding member has a holding portion and a
fitting portion; the holding portion is sandwiched by the upper
plate portion and the lower plate portion in the up-down direction;
the fitting portion extends forward in the front-rear direction
from the holding portion; the fitting portion is positioned forward
in the front-rear direction beyond any of the upper plate portion
and the lower plate portion; the fitting portion has an upper
surface and a lower surface each facing in the up-down direction;
the plurality of contacts are arranged in two contact rows; the
contacts of each of the contact rows are arranged in a pitch
direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the up-down
direction; each of the contacts has a held portion and a contact
portion; the held portion is held by the holding portion; the
contact portions are configured to be brought into contact with the
mating contacts, respectively, of the mating connector when the
connector is mated with the mating connector; the contact portion
is exposed outside the fitting portion on the upper surface or the
lower surface of the fitting portion; and the midplate is held by
the holding member so as to be positioned between the contact rows
in the up-down direction.
2. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the extending
portion extends rearward in the front-rear direction from the lower
plate portion.
3. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the upper plate
portion has a rear end in the front-rear direction; the lower plate
portion has a rear end in the front-rear direction; and the
coupling portion couples the rear end of the upper plate portion
and the rear end of the lower plate portion with each other.
4. The connector as recited in claim 3, wherein the extending
portion is a part of the coupling portion.
5. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the ground member
further has an upper press-fit portion and a lower press-fit
portion; the upper press-fit portion extends rearward in the
front-rear direction from the upper plate portion; the lower
press-fit portion extends rearward in the front-rear direction from
the lower plate portion; the holding member is formed with an upper
press-fit ditch and a lower press-fit ditch; the upper press-fit
portion is received in the upper press-fit ditch; and the lower
press-fit portion is received in the lower press-fit ditch.
6. The connector as recited in claim 5, wherein: the upper
press-fit portion has an upper main portion, an upper engaging
protrusion and an upper bulge; the upper main portion has a
plate-like shape and extends rearward in the front-rear direction
from the upper plate portion; the upper engaging protrusion
protrudes in the pitch direction from the upper main portion; the
upper bulge is bulged upward in the up-down direction from the
upper main portion; the lower press-fit portion has a lower main
portion, a lower engaging protrusion and a lower bulge; the lower
main portion has a plate-like shape and extends rearward in the
front-rear direction from the lower plate portion; the lower
engaging protrusion protrudes in the pitch direction from the lower
main portion; and the lower bulge is bulged downward in the up-down
direction from the lower main portion.
7. The connector as recited in claim 5, wherein: the two contact
rows include a first contact row and a second contact row; the
first contact row is positioned above the second contact row in the
up-down direction; the upper press-fit portion is positioned above
the lower press-fit portion in the up-down direction; in the pitch
direction, the upper press-fit portion is arranged inward of the
contacts which are arranged at opposite ends, respectively, of the
first contact row in the pitch direction; and in the pitch
direction, the lower press-fit portion is arranged inward of the
contacts which are arranged at opposite ends, respectively, of the
second contact row in the pitch direction.
8. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the ground member
further has an auxiliary press-fit portion; the auxiliary press-fit
portion extends rearward in the front-rear direction from the
coupling portion; the auxiliary press-fit portion is provided with
a auxiliary engaging protrusion which protrudes in a direction
perpendicular to the front-rear direction; the holding member is
formed with an auxiliary press-fit ditch; and the auxiliary
press-fit portion is received in the auxiliary press-fit ditch.
9. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein the ground member
is formed as a single component.
10. The connector as recited in claim 1, wherein: the holding
member has an outer circumference; and the coupling portion of the
ground member is positioned inward of the outer circumference of
the holding member in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear
direction.
11. A connector assembly comprising the connector as recited in
claim 1 and the circuit board, wherein: the circuit board is formed
with a single through hole; the midplate has a leg portion; and the
leg portion and the fixed leg are fixed to the single through hole.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a connector which is mountable on a
circuit board and which is mateable with a mating connector, and to
a connector assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
Referring to FIGS. 19 to 20, Patent Document 1 discloses a
connector socket 900 which is mateable with a connector plug (not
shown). The connector socket 900 of Patent Document 1 comprises a
housing 910, an insulating main body 920, two cover plates (ground
members) 930, terminal supporting pieces 942, terminals 941 and a
separation plate 950. The two cover plates 930 are arranged in
opposite sides, respectively, of the insulating main body 920 in an
up-down direction. Each of the terminal supporting pieces 942 is
inserted into the insulating main body 920. The terminals 941 are
supported by the terminal supporting piece 942. The cover plates
930 are integrally formed with positional lugs 931 and locking lugs
932. The insulating main body 920 is provided with positional lug
inserting ditches 921 and locking lug inserting ditches 922. The
positional lug inserting ditches 921 correspond to the positional
lugs 931, respectively. The locking lug inserting ditches 922
correspond to the locking lugs 932, respectively. The cover plate
930, which is positioned upward of the insulating main body 920, is
press-fit downwardly into the insulating main body 920. The cover
plate 930, which is positioned downward of the insulating main body
920, is press-fit upwardly into the insulating main body 920.
Meanwhile, each of the positional lugs 931 is inserted into the
positional lug inserting ditch 921 corresponding thereto, while
each of the locking lugs 932 is inserted into the locking lug
inserting ditch 922 corresponding thereto. Each of the cover plates
930 is configured to be connected with a plug housing (not shown)
of the connector plug (not shown) when the connector socket 900 and
the connector plug (not shown) are mated with each other.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS
Patent Document(s)
Patent Document 1: JPU 3198686
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
Generally, in a case where a ground member and a circuit board are
connected with each other through a shell or the like, a connector
may have variations in electrical characteristic depending on
reliability of connection of the ground member with the shell or
the like and on reliability of connection of the shell or the like
with the circuit board.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
connector which can have a stable electrical characteristic and
which has a reduced height.
Solution to Problem
An aspect of the present invention provides a connector mountable
on a circuit board and mateable with a mating connector along a
front-rear direction. The mating connector comprises a plurality of
mating contacts. The connector comprises a ground member, a holding
member, a plurality of contacts and a midplate. The ground member
has an upper plate portion, a lower plate portion, a coupling
portion, a fixed leg and an extending portion. The upper plate
portion and the lower plate portion are arranged so as to be apart
from each other in an up-down direction perpendicular to the
front-rear direction. Each of the upper plate portion and the lower
plate portion extends in a predetermined plane intersecting with
the up-down direction. The coupling portion couples the upper plate
portion and the lower plate portion with each other. The fixed leg
is configured to be fixed to the circuit board. The fixed leg
extends downward in the up-down direction from the extending
portion. The extending portion connects the fixed leg and the lower
plate portion with each other. The extending portion extends in the
predetermined plane from the lower plate portion. The holding
member has a holding portion and a fitting portion. The holding
portion is sandwiched by the upper plate portion and the lower
plate portion in the up-down direction. The fitting portion extends
forward in the front-rear direction from the holding portion. The
fitting portion is positioned forward in the front-rear direction
beyond any of the upper plate portion and the lower plate portion.
The fitting portion has an upper surface and a lower surface each
facing in the up-down direction. The plurality of contacts are
arranged in two contact rows. The contacts of each of the contact
rows are arranged in a pitch direction perpendicular to the
front-rear direction and the up-down direction. Each of the
contacts has a held portion and a contact portion. The held portion
is held by the holding portion. The contact portions are configured
to be brought into contact with the mating contacts, respectively,
of the mating connector when the connector is mated with the mating
connector. The contact portion is exposed outside the fitting
portion on the upper surface or the lower surface of the fitting
portion. The midplate is held by the holding member so as to be
positioned between the contact rows in the up-down direction.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a connector
assembly comprising the connector and the circuit board. The
circuit board is formed with a single through hole. The midplate
has a leg portion. The leg portion and the fixed leg are fixed to
the single through hole.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
In the connector of the present invention, the ground member can be
directly connected to a circuit board. Accordingly, as compared
with a connector having a structure in which a ground member and a
circuit board are connected with each other through a shell or the
like, the connector of the present invention can be prevented from
having variations in electrical characteristic even if the
connector has variations in quality resulting from a connecting
process of an assembly of the connector.
Furthermore, in the connector of the present invention, the
extending portion extends in a plane same as a plane in which the
lower plate portion extends, and the fixed leg extends from the
extending portion. Accordingly, the fixed leg can have an increased
length. In other words, the fixed leg can have an increased
dimension in the up-down direction. Thus, when the fixed leg is
soldered to a circuit board in a case where the connector of the
present invention is fixed on the circuit board, there is a reduced
possibility that the contacts are short-circuited with each other
by solder which flows up the fixed leg.
An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a
more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying
the following description of the preferred embodiment and by
referring to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view showing a connector according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a lower perspective view showing the connector of FIG.
1.
FIG. 3 is a top view showing the connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing the connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 5,
taken along line A-A.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 5,
taken along lone B-B.
FIG. 8 is an upper perspective view showing a ground member
included in the connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a lower perspective view showing the ground member of
FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the ground member of FIG. 8.
FIG. 11 is an exploded, perspective view showing the connector of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a connector assembly in which
the connector of FIG. 1 is mounted on a circuit board. In the
figure, a fixed leg of the ground member and a leg portion of a
midplate are fixed to a single through hole.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state where the connector
assembly of FIG. 12 is fixed to a housing.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a state where a shell is
attached to the connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 15 is a front view showing the connector of FIG. 14.
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 15,
taken along line C-C.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector of FIG. 15,
taken along line D-D.
FIG. 18 is an upper perspective view showing a modification of the
connector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view showing a connector socket of
Patent Document 1.
FIG. 20 is an exploded, perspective view showing the connector
socket of Patent Document 1.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and
alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of
example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It
should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed
description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the
particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to
cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling
within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by
the appended claims.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and 12, a connector 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention is mountable on a circuit board
700 and mateable with a mating connector (not shown) along a
front-rear direction. The mating connector has a plurality of
mating contacts (not shown). In the present embodiment, the
front-rear direction is a Y-direction. It is assumed that forward
is a negative Y-direction while rearward is a positive
Y-direction.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the connector 100 of the present
embodiment comprises a ground member 200, a holding member 300, a
plurality of first contacts (contacts) 400, a plurality of second
contacts (contacts) 450, a midplate 500 and an auxiliary holding
member 380. The ground member 200 is made of metal. The holding
member 300 is made of insulator. Each of the first contacts 400 is
made of metal. Each of the second contacts 450 is made of metal.
The midplate 500 is made of metal. Since the connector 100 of the
present embodiment has no shell, the connector 100 has a reduced
height and is easy to be assembled as compared with a connector
having a shell.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 11, the holding member 300 has a
holding portion 310, a fitting portion 320, a middle portion 360, a
supporting portion 370 and two projecting portions 372. The holding
portion 310 connects the fitting portion 320 and the middle portion
360 with each other in the front-rear direction. The fitting
portion 320 has a plate-like portion. The fitting portion 320
extends forward in the front-rear direction from the holding
portion 310. The middle portion 360 is positioned rearward of the
holding portion 310. The middle portion 360 connects the holding
portion 310 and the supporting portion 370 with each other in the
front-rear direction. The supporting portion 370 is positioned
rearward of the middle portion 360. The projecting portions 372 are
positioned in the vicinities of opposite ends, respectively, of the
supporting portion 370 in a pitch direction perpendicular to the
front-rear direction. In the present embodiment, the pitch
direction is an X-direction. Each of the projecting portions 372 is
positioned at a lower end of the supporting portion 370 in an
up-down direction perpendicular to both the front-rear direction
and the pitch direction. Each of the projecting portions 372
protrudes downward. In the present embodiment, the up-down
direction is a Z-direction. Upward is a positive Z-direction, while
downward is a negative Z-direction.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 11, the holding member 300 is formed
with two upper press-fit ditches 330, two lower press-fit ditches
340, two auxiliary press-fit ditches 350, two outer portion
accommodating portions 374 and a plurality of contact holding
ditches 322. Each of the upper press-fit ditches 330 is positioned
at an upper side of the holding portion 310. Each of the upper
press-fit ditches 330 is recessed rearward. Each of the upper
press-fit ditches 330 has inner walls, which face each other in the
pitch direction, and inner walls which face each other in the
up-down direction. Each of the lower press-fit ditches 340 is
positioned at a lower side of the holding portion 310. Each of the
lower press-fit ditches 340 is recessed rearward. Each of the lower
press-fit ditches 340 has inner walls, which face each other in the
pitch direction, and inner walls which face each other in the
up-down direction. The auxiliary press-fit ditches 350 are
positioned in the vicinities of opposite side surfaces,
respectively, of the supporting portion 370 in the pitch direction.
Each of the auxiliary press-fit ditches 350 is recessed rearward.
Each of the auxiliary press-fit ditches 350 has inner walls, which
face each other in the pitch direction, and inner walls which face
each other in the up-down direction. Each of the outer portion
accommodating portions 374 is a part of upper surfaces of the
middle portion 360 and the supporting portion 370. The outer
portion accommodating portions 374 are positioned in the vicinities
of opposite ends, respectively, of the upper surfaces of the middle
portion 360 and the supporting portion 370 in the pitch direction.
Each of the contact holding ditches 322 is a ditch extending in the
front-rear direction. The contact holding ditches 322 are formed on
each of an upper surface and a lower surface of the fitting portion
320.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and 11, the plurality of first contacts
(contacts) 400 form a first contact row (contact row), while the
plurality of second contacts (contacts) 450 form a second contact
row (contact row). The first contact row is positioned above the
second contact row in the up-down direction. The first contacts
400, which form the first contact row, are arranged in the pitch
direction. The second contacts 450, which form the second contact
row, are arranged in the pitch direction.
As understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, each of the first contacts 400
has a first held portion 404 (held portion), a first contact
portion 402 (contact portion) and a first fixed portion 406. The
first held portion 404 (held portion) is held by the holding
portion 310. The first contact portion 402 (contact portion) is
exposed outside the fitting portion 320 on the upper surface of the
fitting portion 320. The first fixed portion 406 is configured to
be soldered on the circuit board 700. The first held portion 404
extends forward from an upper end of the first fixed portion 406.
The first held portion 404 has first contact press-fit portions 408
which are positioned at its opposite ends, respectively, in the
pitch direction. Each of the first contact press-fit portions 408
protrudes outward in the pitch direction. The first contact portion
402 extends forward from a front end of the first held portion 404.
The first contact portions 402 are held by the contact holding
ditches 322, respectively, which are formed on the upper surface of
the fitting portion 320 of the holding member 300. The first
contact portions 402 of the first contacts 400 are configured to be
brought into contact with the mating contacts (not shown) of the
mating connector (not shown) under a state where the connector 100
is mated with the mating connector (not shown). The first fixed
portion 406 has an L-like shape. The first fixed portion 406
extends downward from a rear end of the first held portion 404 and
then extends rearward. As understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, the
auxiliary holding member 380 holds the vicinity of a rear end of
the first held portion 404 and a part of the first fixed portion
406 of the first contact 400, wherein the part of the first fixed
portion 406 extends upward.
As understood from FIGS. 1 and 11, each of the first contacts 400
is attached to the holding member 300 by being press-fit into the
holding member 300. Specifically, first, each of the first contacts
400 is attached to the auxiliary holding member 380. Next, a front
end of the first contact portion 402 of each of the first contacts
400, which are attached to the auxiliary holding member 380, is
pushed forward from a rear end of the holding member 300, so that
the first contact press-fit portions 408 of each of the first
contacts 400 bite into the holding member 300. Accordingly, each of
the first contacts 400 is held by the holding member 300.
As understood from FIGS. 6 and 11, each of the second contacts 450
has a second held portion 454 (held portion), a second contact
portion 452 (contact portion) and a second fixed portion 456. The
second held portion 454 (held portion) is held by the holding
portion 310. The second contact portion 452 (contact portion) is
exposed outside the fitting portion 320 on the lower surface of the
fitting portion 320. The second fixed portion 456 is configured to
be soldered on the circuit board 700. The second held portion 454
extends forward from an upper end of the second fixed portion 456.
The second held portion 454 has second contact press-fit portions
458 which are positioned at its opposite ends, respectively, in the
pitch direction. Each of the second contact press-fit portions 458
protrudes outward in the pitch direction. The second contact
portion 452 extends forward from a front end of the second held
portion 454. The second contact portions 452 are held by the
contact holding ditches 322, respectively, which are formed on the
lower surface of the fitting portion 320 of the holding member 300.
The second contact portions 452 of the second contacts 450 are
configured to be brought into contact with the mating contacts (not
shown) of the mating connector (not shown) under the state where
the connector 100 is mated with the mating connector (not shown).
The second fixed portion 456 has an L-like shape. The second fixed
portion 456 extends downward from a rear end of the second held
portion 454 and then extends rearward.
As understood from FIGS. 2 and 11, each of the second contacts 450
is attached to the holding member 300 by being press-fit into the
holding member 300. Specifically, a front end of the second contact
portion 452 of each of the second contacts 450 is pushed forward
from the rear end of the holding member 300, so that the second
contact press-fit portions 458 of each of the second contacts 450
bite into the holding member 300. Accordingly, each of the second
contacts 450 is held by the holding member 300.
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the ground member 200 is formed as a
single component. Specifically, the ground member 200 has an upper
plate portion 210, a lower plate portion 220, two coupling portions
230, two fixed legs 240, two upper press-fit portions 260, two
lower press-fit portions 270 and two auxiliary press-fit portions
280.
As understood from FIGS. 1. 2 and 8 to 10, the upper plate portion
210 extends in a predetermined plane intersecting with the up-down
direction. More specifically, the upper plate portion 210 extends
in a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The upper plate
portion 210 is coupled with the coupling portions 230 at its rear
ends which are positioned in the vicinities of its opposite ends,
respectively, in the pitch direction. The lower plate portion 220
extends in the predetermined plane intersecting with the up-down
direction. More specifically, the lower plate portion 220 extends
in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The lower
plate portion 220 is coupled with the coupling portions 230 at its
rear ends which are positioned in the vicinities of its opposite
ends, respectively, in the pitch direction. In other words, the
upper plate portion 210 and the lower plate portion 220 are coupled
with each other by the coupling portions 230. The upper plate
portion 210 and the lower plate portion 220 are arranged so as to
be apart from each other in the up-down direction. The holding
portion 310 is sandwiched by the upper plate portion 210 and the
lower plate portion 220 in the up-down direction. The fitting
portion 320 is positioned forward in the front-rear direction
beyond any of the upper plate portion 210 and the lower plate
portion 220.
As understood from FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 8 to 10, each of the coupling
portions 230 has a coupling vertical portion 232, an outer portion
285, a connecting portion 290 and an extending portion 250. In
other words, the extending portion 250 is a part of the coupling
portion 230. The coupling vertical portions 232 extend upward in
the up-down direction from the rear ends of the lower plate portion
220 which are positioned at its opposite ends, respectively, in the
pitch direction. The outer portion 285 is coupled with an upper end
of the coupling vertical portion 232. The outer portion 285 extends
in the plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The connecting
portion 290 extends downward from a front end of the outer portion
285 which is positioned at its inner end in the pitch direction.
The connecting portions 290 are connected with the rear ends of the
upper plate portion 210 which are positioned at its opposite ends,
respectively, in the pitch direction. In other words, each of the
coupling portions 230 couples the rear end of the upper plate
portion 210 and the rear end of the lower plate portion 220 with
each other. The extending portion 250 extends rearward from the
lower plate portion 220. Specifically, the extending portions 250
extend rearward from the rear ends of the lower plate portion 220
which are positioned at its opposite ends, respectively, in the
pitch direction. Each of the extending portions 250 extends from
the lower plate portion 220 in the predetermined plane intersecting
with the up-down direction. More specifically, each of the
extending portions 250 extends from the lower plate portion 220 in
an XY-plane, namely, in the plane perpendicular to the up-down
direction. Furthermore specifically, each of the extending portions
250 extends in the Y-direction from the lower plate portion 220
while extending toward the coupling vertical portion 232. As shown
in FIGS. 2 and 9, the extending portion 250 connects the fixed leg
240 and the lower plate portion 220 with each other.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, each of the coupling portions 230 of the
present embodiment is positioned inward of an outer circumference
of the holding member 300 in a direction perpendicular to the
front-rear direction. More specifically, each of the coupling
portions 230 of the present embodiment is positioned inward of an
outer circumference of the supporting portion 370 of the holding
member 300 in the direction perpendicular to the front-rear
direction. Accordingly, the ground member 200 has a low probability
to be unintentionally brought into contact with a member other than
members included in the connector 100.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 12, each of the fixed legs 240 is
configured to be fixed to the circuit board 700. The fixed legs 240
of the present embodiment extend downward in the up-down direction
from the extending portions 250, respectively. The fixed legs 240
are positioned in the vicinities of opposite ends, respectively, of
the connector 100 in the pitch direction.
As shown in FIG. 8, each of the upper press-fit portions 260 has an
upper main portion 261 having a plate-like shape, upper engaging
protrusions 262 and an upper bulge 264. Each of the upper press-fit
portions 260 extends rearward in the front-rear direction from the
upper plate portion 210. More specifically, the upper main portion
261 of the upper press-fit portion 260 extends rearward from a rear
end of the upper plate portion 210 in the front-rear direction.
Each of the upper engaging protrusions 262 protrudes in the pitch
direction from the upper main portion 261. More specifically, the
upper engaging protrusions 262 are positioned at opposite ends of
the upper main portion 261 in the pitch direction and each
protrudes outward in the pitch direction. The upper bulge 264 is
bulged upward in the up-down direction from the upper main portion
261.
As shown in FIG. 9, each of the lower press-fit portions 270 has a
lower main portion 271 having a plate-like shape, lower engaging
protrusions 272 and a lower bulge 274. Each of the lower press-fit
portions 270 extends rearward in the front-rear direction from the
lower plate portion 220. More specifically, the lower main portion
271 of the lower press-fit portion 270 extends rearward from a rear
end of the lower plate portion 220 in the front-rear direction.
Each of the lower engaging protrusions 272 protrudes in the pitch
direction from the lower main portion 271. More specifically, the
lower engaging protrusions 272 are positioned at opposite ends of
the lower main portion 271 in the pitch direction and each
protrudes outward in the pitch direction. The lower bulge 274 is
bulged downward in the up-down direction from the lower main
portion 271. Each of the upper press-fit portions 260 is positioned
above any of the lower press-fit portions 270 in the up-down
direction
The auxiliary press-fit portions 280 extend rearward in the
front-rear direction from the coupling portions 230, respectively.
More specifically, each of the auxiliary press-fit portions 280
extends rearward in the front-rear direction from a rear end of the
coupling vertical portion 232 of the coupling portion 230
corresponding thereto. Each of the auxiliary press-fit portions 280
is provided with auxiliary engaging protrusions 282 each of which
protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
More specifically, the auxiliary engaging protrusions 282 are
positioned at opposite ends of the auxiliary press-fit portion 280
in the up-down direction and each protrudes outward in the up-down
direction.
Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 and 11, the ground member 200 is attached
to the holding member 300 by being press-fit into the holding
member 300. Specifically, the ground member 200 is inserted
rearward from a front of the holding member 300, and the upper
press-fit portions 260, the lower press-fit portions 270 and the
auxiliary press-fit portions 280 of the ground member 200 are
pushed into the upper press-fit ditches 330, the lower press-fit
ditches 340 and the auxiliary press-fit ditches 350, respectively,
of the holding member 300. Accordingly, the upper engaging
protrusions 262 of each of the upper press-fit portions 260 bite
into the upper press-fit ditch 330 corresponding thereto.
Similarly, the lower engaging protrusions 272 of each of the lower
press-fit portions 270 bite into the lower press-fit ditch 340
corresponding thereto and the auxiliary engaging protrusions 282 of
each of the auxiliary press-fit portions 280 bite into the
auxiliary press-fit ditch 350 corresponding thereto. Thus, the
ground member 200 is held by the holding member 300.
In detail, as understood from FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, the two upper
press-fit portions 260 correspond the two upper press-fit ditches
330, respectively, and each of the upper press-fit portions 260 is
received in the upper press-fit ditch 330 corresponding thereto. In
addition, the two lower press-fit portions 270 correspond to the
two lower press-fit ditches 340, respectively, and each of the
lower press-fit portions 270 is received in the lower press-fit
ditch 340 corresponding thereto. Furthermore, the two auxiliary
press-fit portions 280 correspond to the two auxiliary press-fit
ditches 350, respectively, and each of the auxiliary press-fit
portions 280 is received in the auxiliary press-fit ditch 350
corresponding thereto.
Meanwhile, the upper engaging protrusions 262 bite into the inner
walls of the upper press-fit ditch 330 which face each other in the
pitch direction, and the upper bulge 264 is brought into pressing
contact with the inner wall of the upper press-fit ditch 330 which
is positioned at an upper side of the upper press-fit ditch 330.
Accordingly, the upper main portion 261 is pressed to the inner
wall of the upper press-fit ditch 330 which is positioned at a
lower side of the upper press-fit ditch 330, while the upper plate
portion 210 is pressed to an upper surface of the holding portion
310. Also meanwhile, the lower engaging protrusions 272 bite into
the inner walls of the lower press-fit ditch 340 which face each
other in the pitch direction, and the lower bulge 274 is brought
into pressing contact with the inner wall of the lower press-fit
ditch 340 which is positioned at a lower side of the lower
press-fit ditch 340. Accordingly, the lower main portion 271 is
pressed to the inner wall of the lower press-fit ditch 340 which is
positioned at an upper side of the lower press-fit ditch 340, while
the lower plate portion 220 is pressed to a lower surface of the
holding portion 310. Thus, even if the connector 100 is repeatedly
inserted into and removed from the mating connector (not shown),
the ground member 200 can be prevented from being lifted from the
holding member 300 and from being removed from the holding member
300 by being pulled forward.
In addition, meanwhile, the auxiliary engaging protrusions 282 bite
into the inner walls of the auxiliary press-fit ditch 350 which
face each other in the up-down direction. Accordingly, each of the
auxiliary press-fit portions 280 is rigidly held by the auxiliary
press-fit ditch 350 corresponding thereto, so that the ground
member 200 is further rigidly attached to the holding member
300.
Since the ground member 200 is formed as the single component as
described above, the ground member 200 can be attached to the
holding member 300 in a simplified process as compared with a
ground member formed as multiple members. In addition, as described
above, the ground member 200 is attached to the holding member 300
by being press-fit into the holding member 300 from its front.
Accordingly, as compared with a ground member attached to a holding
member along an up-down direction, lift and removal of the ground
member 200 from the holding member 300 are prevented when the
mating connector (not shown) is mated with and removed from the
connector 100.
As understood from FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, in the pitch direction, each
of the upper press-fit portions 260 is arranged inward of the first
contacts 400 which are arranged at opposite ends, respectively, of
the first contact row in the pitch direction. More specifically, in
the pitch direction, each of the upper press-fit portions 260 is
arranged inward of the first held portions 404 of the first
contacts 400 which are arranged at the opposite ends, respectively,
of the first contact row in the pitch direction.
As understood from FIGS. 2, 4 and 9, in the pitch direction, each
of the lower press-fit portions 270 is arranged inward of the
second contacts 450 which are arranged at opposite ends,
respectively, of the second contact row in the pitch direction.
More specifically, in the pitch direction, each of the lower
press-fit portions 270 is arranged inward of the second held
portions 454 of the second contacts 450 which are arranged at the
opposite ends, respectively, of the second contact row in the pitch
direction.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 6, the midplate 500 is held by the
holding member 300 so as to be positioned between the first contact
row and the second contact row in the up-down direction.
Specifically, the midplate 500 is embedded in the holding member
300 via insert-molding. The midplate 500 has two leg portions 510
each of which is configured to be connected to the circuit board
700. The leg portions 510 are positioned in the vicinities of the
opposite ends, respectively, of the connector 100 in the pitch
direction. The leg portions 510 are paired with the fixed legs 240,
respectively, of the ground member 200. In other words, the fixed
legs 240 and the leg portions 510 form two pairs.
As understood from FIGS. 2 and 12, a connector assembly 10 of an
embodiment of the present invention comprises the connector 100 and
the circuit board 700. The circuit board 700 is formed with two
through holes 710 and two apertures 720. The leg portion 510 of the
midplate 500 and the fixed leg 240 of the ground member 200, which
are included in each pair of the two pairs, are altogether fixed to
the single through hole 710 of the circuit board 700. Accordingly,
the connector 100 has enhanced grounding. Since the leg portion 510
and the fixed leg 240, which are included in each pair of the two
pairs, are simultaneously fixed to the circuit board 700, the
connector assembly 10 can be assembled in a simplified process.
In the connector assembly 10 of the present embodiment, the first
fixed portion 406 of each of the first contacts 400 and the second
fixed portion 456 of each of the second contacts 450 are fixed on
the circuit board 700 by soldering. In addition, the projecting
portions 372 of the holding member 300 are inserted into the
apertures 720, respectively, of the circuit board 700, so that the
holding member 300 is fixed to the circuit board 700.
As shown in FIG. 13, the connector assembly 10 is attached to a
housing 800. The housing 800 has an opening 730. The connector 100
is mateable with the mating connector (not shown) through the
opening 730.
While the present invention has been described with specific
embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the
aforementioned embodiments.
Although the connector 100 of the aforementioned embodiment has no
shell, the connector 100 may further comprise, as shown in FIGS. 14
to 17, a shell 850 which has a shell opening 855 and which covers
the fitting portion 320 in a plane perpendicular to the front-rear
direction. Also, in the connector 100 comprising the shell 850, the
fixed legs 240 of the ground member 200 and the leg portions 510 of
the midplate 500 are directly connected to the circuit board 700.
Accordingly, similar to the connector 100 of the present
embodiment, the connector 100 comprising the shell 850 can be
prevented from having variations in electrical characteristic even
if the connector 100 has variations in quality resulting from a
connecting process of its assembly.
The ground member 200 of the connector 100 of the aforementioned
embodiment has a structure in which the opposite ends of the upper
plate portion 210 in the pitch direction and the opposite ends of
the lower plate portion 220 in the pitch direction are not coupled
with each other. As shown in FIG. 18, a connector 100A according to
a modification comprises a ground member 200A, which is attached to
the holding member 300, instead of the ground member 200 of the
aforementioned embodiment. Specifically, the ground member 200A has
a structure in which opposite ends of an upper plate portion 210 in
the pitch direction and opposite ends of a lower plate portion 220
in the pitch direction are coupled with each other by plate portion
coupling portions 295, respectively. Since the ground member 200A
has the structure same as that of the ground member 200 except for
having the plate portion coupling portions 295, a component of the
ground member 200A, which has the same structure as the component
of the ground member 200, is referred to by using the same sign in
the figure.
In the connector 100A of the modification having the ground member
200A, the upper plate portion 210 and the lower plate portion 220
are rigidly coupled with each other. Accordingly, when the
connector 100A is inserted into and removed from a mating connector
(not shown), the ground member 200A can be more securely prevented
from being lifted from the holding member 300.
The present application is based on a Japanese patent application
of JP2015-219671 filed before the Japan Patent Office on Nov. 9,
2015, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred
embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will
recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is
intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
TABLE-US-00001 Reference Signs List 10 connector assembly 100, 100A
connector 200, 200A ground member 210 upper plate portion 220 lower
plate portion 230 coupling portion 232 coupling vertical portion
240 fixed leg 250 extending portion 260 upper press-fit portion 261
upper main portion 262 upper engaging protrusion 264 upper bulge
270 lower press-fit portion 271 lower main portion 272 lower
engaging protrusion 274 lower bulge 280 auxiliary press-fit portion
282 auxiliary engaging protrusion 285 outer portion 290 connecting
portion 295 plate portion coupling portion 300 holding member 310
holding portion 320 fitting portion 322 contact holding ditch 330
upper press-fit ditch 340 lower press-fit ditch 350 auxiliary
press-fit ditch 360 middle portion 370 supporting portion 372
projecting portion 374 outer portion accommodating portion 380
auxiliary holding member 400 first contact (contact) 402 first
contact portion (contact portion) 404 first held portion (held
portion) 406 first fixed portion 408 first contact press-fit
portion 450 second contact (contact) 452 second contact portion
(contact portion) 454 second held portion (held portion) 456 second
fixed portion 458 second contact press-fit portion 500 midplate 510
leg portion 700 circuit board 710 through hole 720 aperture 730
opening 800 housing 850 shell 855 shell opening
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